A massive buyout of SkyWest and/or Republic would be a “checkmate” move. Capture the pilots, aircrafts, simulators, training department who knows how to turn CFI’s into 121 pilots. Oh, they’ll have to pay for that move (no more regional pay scale gap?), and they’ll take on more risk, but desperate times will require desperate measures. That’s if the hype you all are claiming on the shortage becomes a real thing.

I remember sitting in my Aviation class, first day of college back in the Fall of 2011 hearing our professors push the shortage hype, “oh it’s coming”, 10 years later “it’s coming”, well we’ll see.

I’d be thrilled to see my seniority number jump 10-25% with a massive regional buyout by UAL, it would also give me confidence with job security. But I’m still skeptical on the hype.